Problem

Travelcraft Company manufactures a complete line of fiberglass suitcases and attaché cases...

Travelcraft Company manufactures a complete line of fiberglass suitcases and attaché cases. The firm has three manufacturing departments: Molding Component and Assembly. There are also two service departments: Power and Maintenance.

The sides of the cases arc manufactured in the Molding Department. The frames, hinges and locks are manufactured in the Component Department. The cases are completed in the Assembly Department. Varying amounts of materials time, and effort arc required for each of the caste The Power Department and Maintenance Department provide services to the three manufacturing departments.

Travelcraft has always used a plant wide overhead rate. Direct-labor hours are used to assign overhead to products. The predetermined over head rate is calculated by dividing the company’s total estimated overhead by the total estimated direct-labor hour, to be worked in the three manufacturing departments.

Karen Mason director of cost management has recommended that Travelcraft use departmental over head rates. The planned operating costs and expected levels of activity for the coming year have been developed by Mason and are presented by department in the following schedules. (All number are in thousands).

 

Service Departments

 

Power

Maintenances

Department activity measures:

Maximum capacity

1,000 kilowatt-hours

Adjustable

Estimate usage for the coming year

800 kilowatt-hours

125 hours

Department costs:

Materials and supplies

$5,000

$1,500

Fixed overhead

12,000

250

Total service

$18,400

$4,000

 

;

 

Manufacturing Departments

 

Molding

Component

Assembly

Department activity measures:

Direct-labor hours

500

2,000

1,500

Machine hours

875

125

-0-

Department costs:

Direct materials

$12,400

$30,000

$1,250

Direct labor

3,500

20,000

12,000

Variable overhead

3,500

10,000

16,500

Fixed overhead

17,500

6,200

6,100

Total department costs

$36,900

$66,200

$35,850

Use of service departments:

Maintenance:

Estimated usage in labor hours

90

25

10

Power (in kilowatt-hours);

Estimated usage for the coming year

360

320

120

Maximum allotted capacity

500

350

150

Required:

1 Calculate the plant wide overhead rate fur Travelcraft Company for the coming year using the same method a, used in the past.

2. Karen Mason has been asked to develop departmental overhead rates for comparison with the plant wide rare. The following steps are to be followed in developing the departmental rates.

a. The Maintenance Department costs should he allocated to the three manufacturing departments using the direct method.

b. The Power Department cost should be allocated to the three manufacturing departments using the dual method combined with the direct method. Fixed costs are to be allocated according to maximum allotted capacity and variable costs are to be allocated according to planned usage for the coming year.

c. Calculate departmental overhead rates for the three manufacturing departments using a machine-hour cost driver for the Molding Department and a direct-labor-hour cost driver for the component and Assembly departments.

3. As Karen Mason’s assistant, draft a memo for her to send to Travelcraft’s president recommending whether the company should use a plant wide rate or departmental rates to assign overhead to products.

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